Himalayan India

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Thursday 19 June

Another day, another monastery or two or three!

First we visited Thiksey Monastery which was very imposing sitting on a rocky outcrop 25km from Leh. It is a 12 storey building overlooking the flood plain on the east bank of the Indus river. It is a deep red, ochre & white painted building & has 10 temples with many stupas, thangkas, wall paintings & statues including a 15ft high Buddha.

Next was Hemis Monastery, the richest monastery in Ladakh. It was built in 1630 with the largest collection of wall paintings, statues & thangkas.

We walked down past the pretty village & ate our packed lunch on the bank of the Indus before heading back to Shey Palace,

Shey Palace was built in 1645 as a Summer Palace for the Kings of Ladakh. It is the oldest palace in Ladakh with an even older ruined fortress on the hill above it. Lots of steps to climb!

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